Washington (CNN) – Trying to combat the financial advantage they say dramatically helped Republicans last year, Democratic activists Wednesday started another so-called "Super PAC," this one aimed at helping them regain control of the House of Representatives.

House Majority PAC will be able to accept unlimited funds. The names of their donors will be reported to the Federal Election Commission.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is having a good year so far. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, his job approval rating rose from 56 percent among registered voters in February to 64 percent in April.

And approving of how the first-term Democratic head of state is handling his duties as governor is something Democrats, Republicans, and independents can agree on. Almost six in 10 Republicans say they approve of how Cuomo is handling his job and 66 percent of both Democrats and independents say the same.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama entered politically tricky territory Wednesday when he outlined his plan for reducing long-term deficits and the national debt amid a climate of tense budget negotiations in a speech at The George Washington University. Follow the latest developments with below with the Ticker's live blog. Read the full story here.

3:21 p.m. ET - House Speaker John Boehner responded to the president's speech with a statement Wednesday: "Republicans, led by Chairman Ryan, have set the bar with a jobs budget that puts us on a path to paying down the debt and preserves Medicare and Medicaid for the future. This afternoon, I didn’t hear a plan to match it from the President," Boehner said. “He is asking Congress to raise the debt limit to continue paying Washington’s bills. The American people will not stand for that unless it is accompanied by serious action to reduce our deficit. More promises, hollow targets, and Washington commissions simply won’t get the job done."

2:39 p.m. ET - According to a pool report, Republican congressmen Dave Camp, R-Michigan, Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, and Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, left G.W. together at same time, asking a policewoman outside for directions to 21st Street.
2:37 p.m. ET - Obama referenced former President Lincoln once, former President George H.W. Bush twice, former President Clinton once, and former President Reagan twice. He did not utter President George W. Bush’s name one time.FULL POST

(CNN) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said Wednesday that congressional leaders had a "constructive" meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House. Both the White House and Congress agree that "it's time to put the talking points aside" in dealing with the debt crisis, he said.

Other countries "want to know whether America's going to get its act together or (if it's) going to become another Greece," McConnell said. "It's time to act."FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says Donald Trump is not "really serious" about being a 2012 presidential candidate because of his focus on the issue of President Barack Obama's birthplace.

Trump is not the Republican party's answer to winning the 2012 presidential election, Cantor told CNN's American Morning on Wednesday. "I don't think he is really serious, when we launch a campaign, a campaign launched on the birther issue, " Cantor said.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The optics don't look great for Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann. That is, if you're talking about her relationship with LensCrafters, the one-stop shop of eye care and eyewear.

The possible GOP presidential candidate supported her belief that Planned Parenthood should lose its government funding by telling a crowd in Iowa on Monday, "The executive director of Planned Parenthood in Illinois said they want to become the LensCrafter of big abortion in Illinois."FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Republican Tim Pawlenty is adding to his team of advisers and strategists.

The former Minnesota governor announced Wednesday that GOP strategist Jon Seaton will join Pawlenty's presidential exploratory committee as national political director, the second big hire in three days.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Americans are divided on whether the new plan by House Republicans to cut spending goes too far, but the public definitely thinks the GOP budget unfairly favors some groups more than others, according to a new national poll.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey also indicates that last Friday's budget agreement for the remainder of this fiscal year that averted a government shutdown did not boost President Barack Obama's reputation as a strong leader or good manager.FULL POST